Shoe-fitting apparatus



Jan. 28, 1930. E. J. BLISS 1,745,144

SHOE FITTING APPARATUS Filed March 9. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l gzez wmn-Jan. 28, 1930. E. J. BLISS 1,745,144

SHOE FITTING APPARATUS Filed March 9. 1925 4 SheetsSheet 2 Jan. 28,1930. E. J. BLISS 1,745,144

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Jan. 28,1930. E. J. BL ISS 7 44 snow FITTING APPARATUS Filed March 9,1925 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELMER 'l'r. BLISS, orBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AsSIc-NonTo REGAL SHOE COMPANY, OF WHITMAN,MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS SHOE-FITTING APPARATUSApplication filed March 9, 1925.

This invention relates to shoe fitting apparatus, and is intended toprovide a simple and convenient means for expediting the fitting ofshoes to customers in shoe stores.

Actual study of shoe store service has disclosed that the average shoesalesman consumes an altogether unnecessary amount of time andunnecessary motions in serving customers who desire to be fitted to apair of shoes, thereby greatly impairing theeiiiciency of the salesmanand requiring an unnecessary number ofsalesmen to take care of a givennumber of customers within agiven period of time.

The present invention is intended to standardize the shoe fittingpractice and at the same time shorten'the time to facilitate rapidity ofaction, while increasing the comfort and convenience of the customerwhen being fitted with shoes.

In its general aspects the invention comprises a platformto be occupiedby the customer, combined with shoe fitting apparatus and suitablefoot-supporting devices which are so arranged as to be conveniently andinstantly moved into and out of position for service in performing thevarious operations required in good shoe fitting practice. This andother features of the invention will be more particularly described inthe following specification and will be defined in the claims heretoannexed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated apparatus embodying theprinciples of this invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the assembled apparatus showing theraised platform, the foot-rest in raised position and the footfittingapparatus in retracted position.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, the chair being removed.

Figure 3 is an elevation showing the working parts by which themeasuring apparatus and foot-supports are shifted to and from operativeposition.

Figure 4 shows, in elevation, the advanced and retracted positions ofthe measuring apparatus in relation to the floor of the platform.

Figure 5 is a detail cross-section through Serial No. 14,009.

one of the longitudinal slotsor ways formed in the floor of the platformand the guide connected with the sliding foot-support.

Figure 6 is a detail View showing the offset slot in the front of theplatform casing in which moves the foot rest lever.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the working parts by which themovements of the measuring apparatus and of the foot rest are affected,thelatter mechanism being a modification of the form shown inFig. 3.

Figure 8 is a detail showing, in elevation, the mechanism for shiftingthe measuring apparatus and the modified actuating mechanism for thefoot-rest.

Figure 9 is a detail in Side elevation of the interlocking feature ofthe two foot-rest operating treadles shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Figure 10 is a front elevation showing the modified treadle arrangementillustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

In the practice of this invention, according to the illustration in thedrawings, I provide a hollow platform 1, adapted to form a casing forthe interior mechanism, and surmounted by a bench or seat 2, to beoccupied by the customer in the fitting operation. The footmeasuringapparatus 3 embodies substantially the features of construction andarrangement shown in Letters Patent granted to me August 15, 1922, No.1,426,143, and embraces right and left foot-measuring devices, such asshown in said patent, comprisingbase plates 4, movable width-size gages5 and a toe gage 6, secured to a common supporting plate or base memberby which they are carried from retracted position to the advancedposition for use, as indicated in Fig. 4, by suitable means such as thathereinafter explained.

As the customer comes in from the street, often with dust or mud on hisshoes, which of course will become deposited upon the front end of theplatform when he steps upon it in the act of taking his seat, I havemade provision for a -r-emovable weight-supporting platform 7, which maybe covered with carpet or the like, and is normally retracted orwithdrawn from the floor of the platform until the customers shoes havebeen removed.

To afford a foot rest to support the feet of the customer before removalof his shoes for fitting, I provide a foot rest plate or member 8,mounted on the curved pivotal arm 9 which is fulcrumed on the cross-bar10 mounted transversely of the interior frame 11, which carries theworking parts. This curved arm 9 projects through an opening in thefront wall of the platform casing, and is so proportioned that in idleposition the footrest lies snugly against said front wall, as indicatedin Figs. 3 and 10.

As shown in Fig. 1, the foot-rest 8 is pivotally mounted on itssupporting curved arm 9 on which it has, however, only a limited pivotalmovement.

To conveniently raise the foot-rest to service position, I provide atreadle lever 12 which projects through a slotted plate 17 secured tothe front wall of the casing, and has a jointed or pivoted connection at13 with a bell crank lever 14 to permit sidewise movement for lockingpurposes. The bell crank arm is fulcrumed on cross-rod 14 and its longarm 14*, extending upwardly, has jointed connection at 14 with a link 15pivotally connected at 16 with the inner portion of the foot restsupporting arm 9. Depressing the treadle 12 with the foot swings thebell crank arm 14, 1 1 in a clockwise direction and serves to swing thefoot rest arm 9 to the elevated position shown in Fig. 1, through an arcof 90, more or less, thereby bringing the foot rest into convenientposition for supporting the feet of a person seated in the chair.

Any convenient means may be provided for supporting the foot rest underthe pressure of the feet imposed upon it. I have shown in Fig. 6 thefront wall of the casing provided with an approximately L-shaped slotbounded by a slotted guard plate 17, in which the lower end of the slotis extended laterally or offset, as shown at 17, to form a sto shoulder17 for holding the actuating trea le lever 12 temporarily and releasablylocked against return. The pivotal joint 18 readily permits the sidewisemovement of the treadle 12 into the offset recess 17, where it isretained until moved by the operator into position to allow it to returnto the uppermost portion of the slot when the foot-rest is restored toinactive position.

After the old shoes are removed, the measuring apparatus is advancedfrom its retracted or inactive position, partly beneath the chair, toits forward or active position to permit the customer to stand with eachfoot on one of the measuring machines by means now to be described.

The measuring machine base is mounted on two pairs of parallelsupporting arms 30 with which the base has pivotal connection, said armsbeing fulcrumed at their lower ends to the frame-work 11, and projectingthrough longitudinal slots or passages in the platform floor. Theactuation of these levers is effected by means of a pivotally connectedlink 31, whose forward end is slotted to receive a pivotal connectingpin 31, carried by an angular ti'eadle lever 32 which is looselyfulcrumed or pivoted on the end of the transverse shaft 33. The hub 32of said shaft is kept from slipping olf by means of a collar 32", asshown in Fig. 7. Depression of the treadle 32 rocks it forward, andthrough the link connection 31 with the measuring machinecarrying-ari'ns 30, acts to swing the measuring machine forward into theposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The slotted connection betweenthe link 31 and the connecting pin 31, makes provision to allow themeasuring device to rest upon the floor or upon the movablefoot-supporting platform 7. This platform 7 is formed through its rearportion with longitudinal parallel slots 7, aligned with thelongitudinal slots in the platform floor so as to permit the measuringmachine supporting-arms 30 to pass through the foot-supporting platform7 without interfering with the free movement of said parallel arms.These slots 7 extend only about half way toward the front of the movableweight-supporting platform 7 so that the front edges of the slots areengaged by the two forward supporting-arms 30 which act to push or slidethe platform 7 forward over the front part of the floor, thus coveringup the soiled part of the platform floor on which the customer hasstepped in taking his seat, and exposing a carpeted foot-support toreceive his stocking feet after both feet have been measured. Thismovable foot-supporting platform is guided in its movements by means ofprojecting members secured to its bottom side in position to engage andslide in the slots in the platform floor. These guide members 70 may beprovided, as shown in Fig. 5, with one or more outwardly projectingflanges or lips to positively prevent withdrawal of the guides from theslots in the floor.

After both foot measurements have been taken on the two measuringmachines with the customer in standing position resting his weightthereon, he again takes his seat and the measuring machines are returnedto inactive position, leaving the movable supporting platform 7 inadvanced or service position. The shoes indicated by the measurementstaken are then tried on, and as the customer stands upon the carpetedplatform in testing his shoes while standing, the shoe bottom are notmarred by any grit that may have been deposited upon the floor of thefixed platform.

The sequence of operations, therefore, is

that the customer mounts the platform while all of the devices used arein retracted position and afford no obstacle to his doing so. Aftertaking his seat, the foot-rest 8 is thrown up to position, the shoes areremoved and the measuring machine and the foot-platform are advanced toservice position, the footrest 8 having been thrown back to inactiveposition to get it out of the way. The customer then stands and ismeasured for his shoes, it being particularly desirable to measure bothfeet in view of the fact that both feet rarely have the samemeasurements, some times the left, and some times the right foot beingthe larger. The measuring of both feet having been effectedsimultaneously by the two machines, the larger size is noted by thesalesman and the appropriate pair of shoes selected from stock andplaced on the feet of the customer, after the foot measuring apparatushas been retracted leaving the covered platform in advanced positionfrom which it can be retracted or slid back by the hand of the salesman.

Instead of the L-sh aped slot with a laterally movable treadle, I mayuse an additional treadle for the express purpose of returning theraised foot-rest to idle position. This modified arrangement, as shownin Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10, comprises a treadle 40 of angular constructioncorresponding to the treadle 14, 14, in all respects except that itsforward arm, projecting through the front wall of the casing, isintegral with the rear portion instead of being jointedly connectedtherewith. The link 15 has precisely the same construction andarrangement as before, and the treadle is secured to the same reel:-shaft 14" which is used in the other case to mpport the lever 14, 14. Onthe end of this roclcshaft 14 is secured a short projecting arm orfinger 41, this finger being arranged to engage a pin 42 carried by thereturn or lowering treadle 4.3 so that when the treadle $0 is depressedfor the purpose of raising the foot-rest to service position, theengagement of the finger with this projection 42, on the treadle 43,serves to rotate the treadle 43 in a counter-clockwise direction, thuscausing it to rise as treadle 40 is pushed down. In lowering thefoot-rest out of the way so as not to obstruct access to the front partof the platform-casing, the attendant depresses treadle 43 to cause thereverse movement of the treadle 40.

Pivoted dash-pots 18 and 34 are preferably applied, respectively, to thefoot-rest raising mechanism and to the mechanism for shifting thefoot-measuring devices to operative position so as to avoid any violentshock when the respective devices come to operative position underfoot-pressure on the respective pedals.

As shown in Fig. 3, a retractile spring may be used for the purpose ofautomatically returning the foot-rest to inactive position. This springmay be located at any convenient point, but is here shown as anchored toa screw-eye in the top of the casing and connected with a projecting pincarried by the treadle member 12.

\Vhen the customer takes his seat there is noobstruction to his doingso; then the salesman instantly and easily shifts the foot-rest toposition to conveniently unlace and remove the shoes. With equal easeand rapidity the foot-measuring apparatus and the foot-receivingplatform or floor covering member is advanced to service position, thecustomer placing both feet on the measuring machine, stands formeasurement with his feet normally expanded under his weight, as inwalking, and the measurement of both feet is simultaneously effected.When the customer resumes his seat the measuring machine is shifted toinactive position to leave the floor-covering platform in position toreceive his stocking-feet and for the trying on of the shoes indicatedby the measurements taken.

The apparatus, therefore, when properly used, greatly facilitatesaccuracy in fitting and economizes time, and prevents needless movementson the part of the salesman so that a much larger number of customerscan be satisfactorily fitted within a given time than under he practiceheretofore prevailing in shoe stores.

To effectuate the objects of this invention the foot measuring devicesor machines referred to are of a character to gauge the feet and givelength and width size measurements, it

according to the standard length sizes and width sizes used in this art,which is precisely what the foot measuring machines hereinbeforereferred to accomplish. In other words, a foot measuring machine ordevice. as the term is used here, while it may differ in details ofconstruction from such a device shown in applicants former patent,nevertheless involves means for accurately gauging the length andthewidth of the feet being measured and at the same time indicating, onappropriate length size scales and width size scales, the actual sizemeasurements which must be known in order to intelligently select fromstock the appropriate shoes for the customer.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for fitting shoes, the combination with araised fixedplatform and seat, of foot-measuring apparatus mounted to be shiftedabove said platform into and out ofposition in front of said seat toreceive the feet to be fitted, a movable weight-supporting platformarranged to be shifted forwardly into service position in ad Vance ofsaid seat by the forward movement of said measuring apparatus,substantially described.

2. In an apparatus for fitting shoes, the combination with a fixedplatform, of movable measuring apparatus adapted to support the weightof the person being fitted and movable forward and back over said platform, means for guiding said measuring apparatusfrom one position to theother while maintaining it in parallelism in its different positions,substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for fitting shoes, the combination with a fixedplatform, of footmeasuring apparatus mounted to move above said platformfrom idle to service position, supporting and guiding means for saidmeasuring apparatus embracing parallelmotion pivotal arms swingableforwardly and rearwardly to carry said measuring apparatus to and fromservice position.

4. In an apparatus for fitting shoes, the combination with a platform,of foot-measuring apparatus mounted and guided to move to and fro aboveand along said platform, and an actuating lever operatively connectedtherewith to effect the movement of said measuring apparatus and therebyposition it for service, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for fitting shoes, the combination with a platform, afoot-measuring apparatus movably mounted thereon, parallel-motionpivotal arms for carrying said measuring apparatus into and out ofservice position, and an actuating lever operatively connected with saidpivotal arm, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for fitting shoes, the

combination with a platform and seat, foot- 4 measuring mechanismnormally arranged to afford unobstructed access to said seat and movableinto service position in front of said seat, a floor coveringfootsupporting platform normally withdrawn from service position, andmovable into service position simultaneously with said measuringmechanism, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus for fitting shoes, the combination with a platformand seat, of foot-measuring mechanism movable into service position infront of said seat, a floorcovering foot-supporting platform movableinto service position in front of said seat, and means by which saidmeasuring mechanism and said floor covering platform are shifted totheir respective positions for service, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus for fitting shoes, the combination with a platformand seat, of foot-measuring mechanism movable to arid from serviceposition above said platform, a floor covering platform also movable toand from service position in front of said seat, said floor coveringplatform being moved into service position by the movement of themeasuring mechanism, substantially as described.

9. A shoe-fitting apparatus embracing a raised platform provided with anelevated seat over its rear portion, foot-gauging and measuringmechanism normally supported over the rear portion of the platform,means for carrying said mechanism to service position forwardly of theseat, and an indeabove specification.

ELMER J. BLISS.

